Set of artificial nails without necessity of finishing free edges

ABSTRACT

A set of artificial nails is disclosed, in which when an artificial nail is detached from a tree, an edge of the artificial nail, which appears on a nail surface when it is adhered to a nail, is not ruptured, so that the artificial nail body can be directly adhered to the nail surface without the necessity of carrying out a process of finishing the artificial nail. The set of artificial nails includes a tree having plurality of branches branching off from both sides of the tree, and a plurality of artificial nails each detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches at a proper position on a bottom surface of a free edge of the artificial nail body. An upper surface of the artificial nail does not directly contact an upper surface of the branch. When the artificial nail is detached from a support structure of plastic molding material, there is no drawback on the surface of the free edge, such as protrusions, notches, cut portions, torn portions, or the like, as well as having a course or uneven surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a set of artificial nails, and more particularly to a set of artificial nails including improved artificial nails each having a perfectly smooth and rounded free edge, in which when an artificial nail is detached from a support structure of plastic molding material, there is no drawback on the surface of the free edge, such as protrusions, notches, cut portions, tom portions, or the like, as well as having a course or uneven surface.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, a full-cover artificial nail, which is called a nail tip, is made of synthetic resin, such as nylon or acetate, through injection molding. The artificial nails are adhered to user's nails to protect and decorate the nails with beautiful shapes and colors. More specifically, the artificial nail protects the nail bed of the user, and decorates the user's nail with French-nail design and attractive colors.

As a basic cosmetic treatment, the nails are usually applied with a colored nail polish. The application of the nail polish onto the nails causes a complicated process, and it takes a lot of time and a skilled experience to precisely and uniformly apply the nail polish onto all of ten nail bodies. After that, the user should wait for the nail polish to well and truly dry with patient. In the case in which the nail service is provided in a nail saloon, it costs a great deal, as well as time consumption. Accordingly, in recent days, the use of artificial nail kits (also called as a set of artificial nails) which are purchased from a market is rapidly increasing in home.

The set of artificial nails which is commercially available has a drawback that satisfaction of consumers is decreased, because of defects in its shape and a short time of tear and wear, such as damage or abrasion of decoration and color time, as described bellows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of conventional artificial nails 100, and FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional view of a conventional artificial nail 120.

The set of conventional artificial nails 100 includes, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tree 110 having a support structure 111 of a desired length and a plurality of branches 113 branching off from both sides of the support structure 111 at right angle, and a plurality of artificial nails 120 each having a free edge 121 detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches 113. These components of the artificial nail 100 are integrally formed through injection molding. A plurality of the branches 113 are formed flush with the support structure 111, and branch off from the support structure 111 at right angle. The free edge 121 of the artificial nail 120 is detachably coupled to each end of the branches 113.

In the case where the artificial nail 120 is detached from the tree 110, as shown in an enlarged circle of FIG. 2, the free edge 121 of the artificial nail 120, which appears on a nail surface when the artificial nail is adhered to the nail, is ruptured and is not smoothed. As a result, there are problems in that the artificial nails 120 should be detached from the tree 110 by a consumer and the artificial nail 120 detached from the tree 110 has no beautiful figure on its appearance, such as protrusions, notches, cut portions, or the like, which is produced during a manufacturing process.

These drawbacks have a bad effect on the beauty of its appearance, and when the consumer wears the artificial nails, the decoration ink or paint applied onto the free edge 121 is damaged or peeled away. That is, there are exposed spots along an end of the free edge 121, which causes the coating range and aesthetic sense of the decoration paint/ink or UV topcoat to weaken.

The problem of the exposed spots is that the erosion of the nail paint or UV topcoat is typically started from the exposed spots. The erosion of the paint or topcoat is diffused within 2 or 3 days of a normal wearing term, and ultimately the cosmetic appearance of the nail is damaged.

The free edge 121 is generally grinded by the consumer or in the manufacturing process so as to make the free edge smooth.

The problem of damaging the French nail is further accelerated by the specification stated in that the free edge is filed with a buffer or file to polish its surface or a stem or nubble is removed from the free edge 121 to smooth down the end of the free edge.

In particular, this problem is surely appeared on the recent artificial nail kit having a plastic tap directly formed on an edge of the artificial nail. When the user repeatedly bends the tap up and down to detach the tap from the set of artificial nails, the end 122 of the free edge is inevitably damaged.

Thus, it is necessary to file or shave the wide area of the end 122 of the free edge. The filing or shaving may cause the appearance (length and shape) of the nail to damage. Further, according to the specification provided by the manufacturer, the removal of the uneven surface may cause the end of the free edge to more widely expose.

If the nail portion has no the French nail paint or topcoat protection, the erosion of the nail portion is accelerated by the exposed portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a set of artificial nails, in which an original shape of the artificial nail shaped by a mold is not disturbed by a cutting tool, and the entire surface of a free edge is protected by a coating layer(s), so that the artificial nail can be directly adhered to a nail surface without the necessity of carrying out a process of finishing the artificial nail to prolong a lifetime of the decoration provided on the front portion of the artificial nail.

In order to accomplish these objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of artificial nails including a tree having plurality of branches branching off from both sides of the tree, and a plurality of artificial nails each detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches at a proper position on a bottom surface of a free edge of the artificial nail body.

A major feature of the present invention is that the branch (coupling portion between a support structure and a front end of the artificial nail) does not directly contact an upper surface of the artificial nail.

Preferably, the desired position of the free edge of the artificial nail is an end of the free end. Preferably, the end of the branch is thinner than that of the free edge of the artificial nail, and the portion of the branch coupled to the artificial nail is thinner and slenderer than that of the other portion of the branch coupled to the tree.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention, the tree may be integrally formed with the artificial nail through injection molding.

According to another preferred feature of the present invention, the artificial nail may further comprise a French nail decoration of a portion of an upper surface of the artificial nail or the entire surface of the upper surface.

According to still another preferred feature of the present invention, the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, may be upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.

According to further another preferred feature of the present invention, the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails may be coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of artificial nails including a tree having plurality of branches branching off from both sides of the tree, and a plurality of artificial nails each detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches, wherein an upper surface of the branch does not directly contact an upper surface of the artificial nail to have a stepped portion between the upper surfaces.

A major feature of the present invention is that the branch does not contact an upper surface, preferably a half portion of the upper surface, of the artificial nail.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention, the tree may be integrally formed with the artificial nail through injection molding, and the artificial nail may further comprise a French nail decoration of a portion of an upper surface of the artificial nail or the entire surface of the upper surface.

According to another preferred feature of the present invention, the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, may be upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.

According to still another preferred feature of the present invention, the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails may be coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional artificial nail;

FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional view of a conventional artificial nail;

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of a set of artificial nails according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 b is a partially cross-sectional view of a set of artificial nails according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view of an artificial nail with a French nail decorated thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a is a perspective view of a set of artificial nails according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 b is a partially cross-sectional view of an artificial nail with a French nail decorated thereon according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and so repetition of the description on the same or similar components will be omitted.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of a set of artificial nails according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 b is a partially cross-sectional view of a set of artificial nails according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view of an artificial nail with a French nail decorated thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 a is a perspective view of a set of artificial nails according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 b is a partially cross-sectional view of an artificial nail with a French nail decorated thereon according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

A set of artificial nails 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, as shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, a tree 10 having a support structure 11 of a desired length and a plurality of branches 13 branching off from both sides of the support structure 11, and a plurality of artificial nails 20 each detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches 13 at a proper position 21 on a bottom surface of the free edge of the artificial nail 20.

The artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention is made of synthetic resin, such as nylon or acetate, through injection molding using a mold of a desired shape. The artificial nail may be separately shaped to have a predetermined length through the injection molding, or after the artificial nail is separately shaped to have a relatively long length, the artificial nail may be cut by a desired length.

The branch 13 is to detachably connect the artificial nail 20 with the support structure 11. Preferably, the coupling end 13 a of the branch 13, which is coupled to the artificial nail 20, is upwardly bent in such a way that the coupling end can be adjacent to the bottom surface of the artificial nail 20 at the proper position 21. Preferably, the coupling end 13 a has a cross section which is gradually decreased towards its end, so as to easily detach the artificial nail 20 from the branch 13.

Preferably, the coupling end 13 a of the branch 13 is upwardly bent toward the coupled point to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.

Referring to FIG. 4, an artificial nail 20 may have a French nail decoration layer 30 on an edge thereof coupled to the branch 13. The artificial nail may have a French nail decoration applied onto not only a portion of the upper surface, but also the entire surface.

The French nail decoration layer 30 applied on the upper surface of the artificial nail may have a color or design different from that of the free end.

The artificial nail may have a layer 31 formed on the French nail decoration layer 30 by topcoat, so as to maintain the French nail decoration for a long time.

Preferably, the artificial nails 20 of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are symmetrically positioned around the support structure 11, and are coupled to respective coupling ends 13 a of the branches 13 formed at one tree 10.

Each bottom surface of the artificial nails 20, which does not appear when seen from the outside, is detachably coupled to each coupling end 13 a of the branches 13 at the proper position 21. Even when the artificial nail 20 is detached from the tree 10, only a specific portion of the bottom surface corresponding to the proper position 21 is ruptured, which does not appear when the artificial nail is adhered to the nail surface.

A set of artificial nails 2 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, a tree 10 having a support structure 11 of a desired length and a plurality of branches 13 branching off from both sides of the support structure 11, and a plurality of artificial nails 20 each detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches 13 at an end portion 22 of the free edge of the artificial nail 20, in particular, at a lower end of the end portion 22.

In this case, the upper surface of the branch 13 does not contact the upper surface of the artificial nail 20, and is not flush with the upper surface of the artificial nail 20 to have a stepped portion.

Preferably, the coupling end 13 a of the branch 13 is upwardly bent toward the lower portion the end portion 22 of the artificial nail to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.

Thus, in this case in which the artificial nail 20 is detached from the branch 13 of the tree, although not shown herein, the upper surface of the end portion of the artificial nail 20 is not ruptured, so that the artificial nail has a smooth and even upper edge along the end portion of the free edge.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5 b, in the case of the set of artificial nails 2 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an artificial nail 20 may have a French nail decoration layer 30 on an edge thereof coupled to the branch 13. The artificial nail may have a French nail decoration applied onto not only a portion of the upper surface, but also the entire surface.

In the case of the set of artificial nails 2, the artificial nails 20 may be integrally formed with the tree 10 by a mold of desired shape through the injection molding. Preferably, the artificial nails 20 of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are symmetrically positioned around the support structure 11, and are coupled to respective coupling ends 13 a of the branches 13 formed at one tree 10.

The method of using the artificial nail 1 according to the present invention will now be described in detail.

The artificial nail 1 according to the present invention is integrally formed through the injection molding such that each bottom surface of the artificial nails 20 having various shapes is detachably coupled to the proper position 21 of each branch 13 formed at the tree 10.

Each of the artificial nails 20 is detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches 13 at the proper position 21 on the bottom surface of the free edge of the artificial nail 20. By repeatedly bending the artificial nail 20 or the branch 13 up and down, the artificial nail 20 is detached from the branch 13.

A user pushes down the artificial nail 20 of the size corresponding to the size of the nail, to which the artificial nail is adhered, such that the artificial nail 20 is detached from the coupling end 13 a of the branch 13. The artificial nail 20 is adhered to the surface of the corresponding nail by an adhesive such as glue. In this case, only the portion of the bottom surface of the artificial nail 20, which corresponds to the proper position that is coupled to the branch 13, is ruptured.

Since the bottom surface of the artificial nail 20 does not appear outwardly when the artificial nail body is adhered to the nail surface, the user can detach the artificial nail 20 from the tree 10 and then adhere the artificial nail body to the nail surface, without the necessity of carrying out the finishing process.

As described above, in the case where the artificial nail body is detached from the tree, only the specific portion of the bottom surface of the nail body, which corresponds to the proper position and which does not appear outwardly when the artificial nail is adhered to the nail surface, is ruptured. Accordingly, the beautiful appearance of the artificial nail body can be maintained, without providing the exposed surface with bosses, cut portions, or exposed spots.

The feature of the present invention may provide a set of artificial nails having specific artificial nails having a absolutely natural shape and a constant length, in which it is not necessary to carry out a finishing process with a buffer or file before the artificial nails are adhered onto user's nails.

Another advantage of the present invention is that there is no exposed spot along an end portion of a free edge which causes the coating range and aesthetic sense of the decoration paint/ink or UV topcoat to weaken, in contrast with the conventional artificial nails having a defect on its free edge.

As a result, the artificial nail body can be directly adhered to the nail surface, without the necessity of carrying out the finishing process on the bottom surface ruptured due to the detachment. In addition, the artificial nail can prolong the lifespan of the paint/ink and UV topcoat thereon.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A set of artificial nails comprising: a tree having plurality of branches branching off from both sides of the tree; and a plurality of artificial nails each detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches at a proper position on a bottom surface of a free edge of the artificial nail body.
 2. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tree is integrally formed with the artificial nail through injection molding.
 3. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a French nail decoration of a portion of an upper surface of the artificial nail or the entire surface of the upper surface.
 4. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, is upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.
 5. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, is upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.
 6. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, is upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.
 7. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 4, wherein the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure.
 8. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 5, wherein the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure.
 9. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 6, wherein the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure.
 10. A set of artificial nails comprising: a tree having plurality of branches branching off from both sides of the tree; and a plurality of artificial nails each detachably coupled to each end portion of the branches, wherein an upper surface of the branch does not directly contact an upper surface of the artificial nail to have a stepped portion between the upper surfaces.
 11. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tree is integrally formed with the artificial nail through injection molding.
 12. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a French nail decoration of a portion of the upper surface of the artificial nail or the entire surface of the upper surface.
 13. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, is upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.
 14. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, is upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.
 15. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 12, wherein the coupling end of the branch, to which the artificial nail is coupled, is upwardly bent to have a curved shape or an obtuse angle.
 16. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 13, wherein the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure.
 17. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 14, wherein the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure.
 18. The set of artificial nails as claimed in claim 15, wherein the artificial nails of various sizes corresponding to respective user's nails are coupled to the branches in such a way that the artificial nails are symmetrically positioned around a support structure. 